Biobank Technician II – Data Management and Cold Chain

Description

Position Title: Biobank Technician II – Data Management and Cold Chain

Department/Unit: IGHER-Biobank

Reports To: Biobank Program

Location: Kigali with possible travel to research sites

Position type: Two-year contract with possible extension

Position Summary

The Biobank Technician II – Data Management and Cold Chain is responsible for maintaining accurate biobank information systems, managing specimen inventory records, monitoring storage conditions, and ensuring uninterrupted cold chain operations.

The position ensures sample traceability, data integrity, specimen security, and compliance throughout the biobank lifecycle. The Technician also provides essential operational support to clinical trial activities by maintaining trial sample accountability records, supporting monitoring visits, and ensuring accurate documentation of research specimens.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate biobank and clinical trial sample databases, including inventory, location, processing, storage, transfers, and access history.
• Reconcile physical specimens with electronic records and resolve discrepancies.
• Track sample receipt, storage, retrieval, shipment, and chain of custody.
• Monitor cold-chain conditions, including −80°C freezers and liquid nitrogen systems, and respond to temperature excursions.
• Generate sample inventory and accountability reports and support audits, monitoring visits, and regulatory inspections.
• Maintain compliance with SOPs, protocols, ethics, data protection, and quality requirements, including CAPA.
• Maintain equipment, storage, and maintenance records and support contingency planning.
• Collaborate with laboratory, clinical, data, and research teams and support clinical trial start-up, monitoring, and close-out activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Health Informatics, Biomedical/Laboratory Sciences, Data Management, Biotechnology, IT, Life Sciences, or related field.

Experience:

• 2–3 years’ experience in biobank operations, laboratory data management, clinical research, or health information systems.

• Experience with databases, sample tracking, and electronic records.
• Data management, quality assurance, Excel/database systems, cold-chain monitoring, and research documentation.
• Preferred Training: GCP, GCLP, biobank, data management, or biosafety training.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, accountability, problem-solving, teamwork, and commitment to data quality.
• Accurate and timely inventory, complete sample traceability, reliable cold-chain monitoring, and accurate clinical trial specimen accountability.

To apply

Applicants should provide: (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) graduate transcripts, (3) examples of relevant teaching experience or course materials, where available, and (4) a personal statement describing their teaching approach and experience working with diverse student populations. Applicants may also include an example of relevant scholarly work. Please upload these under the ‘Additional Files’ tab on the application page.

University of Global Health Equity is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Organizational Profile

UGHE is a new kind of university focused on training the next generation of global leaders in health care delivery. The university launched in Rwanda in September 2015. Through an academic experience uniquely rooted in the values of equity, students are empowered to both ease suffering at the bedside and drive transformational, systemic changes to the health system.

UGHE is an initiative of Partners In Health (PIH), an internationally recognized non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care. In over nearly three decades of operating alongside public sectors in countries around the world, PIH has developed a model to deliver high quality healthcare to some of the world’s most marginalized communities. Nowhere has this impact been more profound than in Rwanda, where Inshuti Mu Buzima-PIH’s sister organization and our government partners have driven innovation for a decade.

Members of the UGHE community are tenacious and resolute in our drive to attain social justice, make common cause with those in need, listen to and learn from others, and operate with honesty and humility as we uphold academic integrity and intellectual curiosity. The University of Global Health Equity seeks individuals committed to these values to join the team.

Commitment to Safeguarding and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Sexual Harassment:

At UGHE, we are committed to ensuring that those who benefit from our work- including community members – as well as our students, contractors, staff, and visitors to our campus are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and any form of systemic abuse, whilst reducing risk and vulnerabilities. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with UGHE’s policy.

UGHE will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of fraud, harassment, sexual harassment and any form of systemic abuse or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By applying, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.